All of those magnificent, world famous temples of the the Angkorian-era Khmer Empire that drive millions of tourists to Cambodia each year are housed within the Angkor Archaeological Park. Covering an area of more than 400 square kilometers, Angkor Archaeological Park is the largest religious complex in the world. Today, Angkor Archaeological Park is considered to be one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and was declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s International World Heritage Program UNESCO in 1992.
Angkorian-era of the Khmer Empire lasted between 9th and 13th centuries during which most of the famous tamples of the Angkor Archaeological Park were built. Some of the temples date back to the 8th century while the latest additions come from the 1500s.
The most famous temple of the Angkor Archaeological Park is, expectedly Angkor Wat with Bayon Temple located within larger Angkor Thom counting as close second. The complete list of all 53 temple ruins located within Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap Province of Cambodia is below:
- Ak Yum
- Angkor Thom
- Angkor Wat
- Bakong
- Baksei Chamkrong
- Banteay Kdei
- Banteay Prei
- Banteay Samre
- Banteay Srey
- Baphuon
- Bat Chum
- Bayon
- Beng Melea
- Chapel of the Hospital
- Chau Say Tevoda
- East Mebon
- Kbal Spean
- Kleangs (North and South)
- Krol Ko
- Krol Romeas
- Kutisvara
- Lolei
- Neak Pean
- Phimeanakas
- Phnom Bakheng
- Phnom Krom
- Phnom Kulen
- Prasat Bei
- Prasat Kravan
- Prasat Prei
- Prasat Suor Prat
- Prasat Top (East)
- Prasat Top (West)
- Pre Rup
- Preah Khan
- Preah Ko
- Preah Palilay
- Preah Pithu Group
- Roluos Group
- Spean Thma
- Srah Srang
- Ta Keo
- Ta Nei
- Ta Prohm
- Ta Prohm Kel
- Ta Som
- Tep Pranam
- Terrace of the Elephants
- Terrace of the Leper King
- Thma Bay Kaek
- Thommanon
- Wat Athvea
- West Mebon
The entire Angkor Archaeological Park is located in Siem Reap Province with the town of Siem Reap serving its main tourist and business hub.
Additional pre-Angkorian and Angkorian-era temple ruins are located Takeo Province, south of Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh. From historical and archaeological perspective, the temples in Takeo Province are some of the most important, however their visual appeal and magnificance don’t match up to the temples of Angkor Archaeological Park.